Door latch and locking means



p 1964 w. s. TURNER ETAL 3,147,608

DOOR LATCH AND LOCKING MEANS Filed Oct. 1, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l 49 6| V 2l 25 lll||lllllJLl g V INVENTORS- 23 yam &

42 J46 L BY ATTORNEYS Sept 8, 1954 w. s. TURNER ETAL DOOR LATCH AND LOCKING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 1, 1962 INVENTORS. WALTER S. TURNER 8\ JOHN E. FELIX liq/617% ATTORNEYS P 8, 1964 w. s. TURNER ETAL 3,147,608

DOOR LATCH AND LOCKING MEANS Filed Oct. 1, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 5

24 l2 INVENTORS. 22 WALTER S. TURNER 8:

l3 BY JOHN E. FELIX ATTORNEYS P 8, 1964 v w. s. TURNER ETAL 3,147,608

DOOR LATCH AND LOCKING MEANS Filed 001;. l, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS. LTER S. TURNER & HN E. FELIX a ATTORNEYS States Patent O 3,147,608 DOOR LATH AND LOCKING MEANS Walter S. Turner and John E. Felix, Youngstown, Ohio,

assignors to Lake Park Tool 8: Die Company, Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Oct. 1, 1962, Ser. No. 227,144 18 Claims. (Cl. 70-146) This invention relates to the field of latches generally and is more particularly directed to the field of storm door latches. In general, the invention herein disclosed is directed to a novel storm door latch which can be locked and unlocked from the outside by a key and similarly locked and unlocked on the inside through a locking handle. It further includes a novel protective feature which postively prevents a person from accidentally locking himself out of the structure on which it is used.

In its broadest sense, the invention relates to a novel door latch arrangement which permits locking and unlocking from either side of the door, with a built-in safety feature to prevent accidental locking out.

Suitable means are provided to achieve the locking function from the inside and from the outside. Moreover, by a novel arrangement of the locking collar spindle and the locking button, the inner locking means and outer locking means are ganged together, so that motion of one is imparted to the other to achieve a positive locking function, yet allowing for locking and unlocking from either side, and also making it possible to unlock the door from the outside, even if it has been locked from the inside.

The novel door latch herein disclosed has several distinct advantages. Firstly, it positively prevents the user from accidentally locking himself out. Secondly, it provides suitable means whereby the door may be locked and unlocked from the outside through the use of a key. Thirdly, the simplicity of construction of the novel door latch gives rise to economical manufacture and assembly of the lock. Fourthly, the design of the moving elements of the construction is such that they will be capable of enduring years of rugged use without failure. Lastly, easy installation thereof is facilitated by the novel con struction in that only a drill and screwdriver are required to install the same. This permits labor of minimal skills to install the novel lock with ease.

'Door latches of various types have been presented to the art previously; however, many disadvantages have arisen'in connection with their use. One disadvantage resided in the complexity of installation, thereby requiring semi-skilled labor and increasing the cost thereof. Others were of complex construction and this added to the cost of the product, thereby putting it out of the economic range or" many potential users. Additionally, other units were of such light weight construction that they were incapable of enduring the repeated shocks and rugged use to which such doors are subjected.

Another disadvantage of prior art devices was the lack of adequate safety features to insure that a person could not accidentally lock himself out. One of the more embarrassing situations in life is encountered by those who step out to retrieve the morning paper and accidentally release the outer door, which most often results in the party being locked out. In many of these cases the party is not properly attired to meet such a situation, and considerable embarrassment results. Theproblems brought about by the above situation are positively avoided with the use of the novel latch herein disclosed.

Often it is desirable to leave the inner doors of the house open for ventilation with the outer doors locked. In the past, it was necessary for parties desiring entry after the occupants had retired to arouse one of the occupants to release the lock from the inside. The novel $347,668 Patented Sept. 8, 1964 ice latch of the instant invention avoids this inconvenience since it provides suitable means to facilitate unlocking from either side of the door.

One of the more important aspects of the instant invention is the built-in safety feature mentioned above, which will be described in detail below. The safety feature, coupled with the two-way locking means and the coaction therebetween, is brought about by the simplified construction of the novel latch. Simplicity in working parts allows manufacture at a reduced rate since the parts, in most instances, may be cast or stamped; however, the overall quality of the product is not impaired. Moreover, the assembly of the finished article is easily achieved,

as heretofore pointed out, which also reduces the overall cost of manufacture.

A further advantage is the rugged construction of the parts which insures long life of the latching mechanism, even when subjected to repeated shocks and continued abusive use.

With the problems of the prior art in mind, it is a general object of this invention to present a new and improved door latch.

It is a more specific object of this invention to present a new and improved door latch with a built-in safety feature to prevent accidental locking out.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved door latch which may be locked and unlocked from either side of the door.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a storm or screen door latch which is installed with ease by labor of minimal skills.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a new and novel latch which is economically manufactured.

Further and fuller objects will become apparent when reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals identify like parts.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a fragment of a door rail or stile with the novel latch of the instant invention installed thereon, with a portion of the lock casing on the outside broken away to show the locking plug, locking collar, and locking tab;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the novel latch showing a fragmentary portion of the door stile and door frame member;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 with the fragmentary portion of the door and frame removed;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the inner elements of the latch;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a View taken along the line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a reduced scale view similar to the left-hand portion of FIG. 6, with the handle depressed to show the latch bolt retracted;

FIG. 8 is a reduced scale view similar to FIG. 6, showing the locking plug in the depressed position which, in turn, retracts the latch bolt;

FIG. 9 is a view taken along the line 99 of FIG. 3, with the locking button in the unlocked position;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, illustrating the locking button in the locked position;

FIG. 11 is an end view of the inside portion of the outside locking assembly with the spindle rotated to the lock position and the locking plate tab partly in section;

FIG. 12 is a view taken along the line 1212 of FIG. 3 and is similar to FIG. 11, however, with the spindle shown in the unlocked position;

FIG. 13 is a view taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 3, showing the outer end of the locking collar with the locking pin in section;

FIG. is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing the keylocked position of the assembly; and

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15, illustrating the locking collar and engaging pin in unlocked position, having been unlocked by a key.

Referring to FIG. 1, therein is shown a fragmentary portion of a door stile or rail 10, with an inner latch assembly 11 and an outer actuating assembly 12 on opposide sides thereof. The outer latch assembly has a casing 13 and a door grip 14 which is integral therewith. The casing 13 is generally cylindrical with a locking plug 15 slidably received in a generally cylindrical bore 85. The locking plug 15 is adapted to receive a key 16 at the outer end thereof. The inner end 17 of the locking plug abuts a locking collar 18, the latter having a spindle 19 integral therewith and extending through the door stile 10 into the inner casing 11. A locking plate 20 is in abutment with the outer surface 131? of the stile 19 and carries a locking tab 21 with a cam shaped end portion 21 which extends into the outer casing 13. A spring 22 holds the locking plate 20 against the outer surface of the stile 10, while the opposite end is bottomed on the locking collar to force it into engagement with the locking plug 15.

The inner latch assembly 11 comprises an inner casing 23 having a locking button 24 rotatably supported therein, which engages a latching bolt 25. A handle 26 is mounted for movement on an elongated bearing surface or pivot pin 27 and also is in engagement with the latch bolt when rotated about the pivot.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, a fragmentary portion of the door rail or stile 10 is shown received in a rabbeted fragmentary portion 28 of the frame 23. The frame 29 carries a latch plate 30, over which the latch bolt 25 slides in order to latch the door. The latch bolt 25 has an inclined surface 31 which cooperates with the arcuate surface 32 of the latch plate so that when the door is moved towards the closed position, the inclined surface 31 rides on the surface 32, depressing the latch bolt 25 and allowing it to pass the latch plate 30. The latch bolt 25 is returned to its extended or latched position by a biasing spring 33, which is best seen in FIG. 3 and FIG. 5.

With particular reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the novel latch is therein illustrated in a cross-sectional view and an exploded schematic view respectively. The inner casing member 23 comprises a box-like portion with integral flanges 41 and 42. The flanges have perforations 43 and 44 extending therethrough to receive bolts which are fastened to the raised boss portions 45 and 46 of the outer casing. It can thus be seen that the assembly can only be removed from the inside of the door, thereby making the latch device pilfer-proof from the exterior. The casing 23 has a rectangular recess 47 which extends through the casing to the closed portion on the opposite end. The rectangular recess 47 defines an elongated bearing surface to receive the latch bolt 25 for slidable movement. The latch bolt is provided with a groove extending across the upper surface in a direction transverse to the axis of slidable movement. The edges of the groove converge to provide generally trapezoidal construction, the merging portion providing a cam surface which cooperates with the operator 48. As is best seen in FIG. 4, the operator 48 is integral with the pivoting handle 26 so that pivoting of the handle swings the operator in an arcuate path to engage the cam surface 50.

As heretofore pointed out, a biasing spring 33, which is set in a groove 49 in the latch bolt, serves to keep the latch bolt 25 extended while keeping the operator 48 and the cam surface 51 in engagement when no external forces are applied.

The handle 26 is assembled by inserting the latch bolt 25 and spring 33 in the rectangular recess 47 and sliding '4 the handle in the groove 51, so that the operator 48 seats against the cam surface 55. A hole 52 in the handle is aligned with a hole 53 in the casing member 23, and the pivot pin 27 is inserted through the two to provide for relative pivoting action therebetween and to assemble the parts. The handle further contains an integral pressure surface 54, which extends generally at right angles to the surface 55 and is further adapted to be engaged by the spindle so that, upon depression thereof, the handle rotates about the pivot 27, retracting the latch bolt 25.

It can be appreciated that the cam surface 59, through the operator 48, changes the direction of motion 90, i.e., axial thrust on the surface 54 results in the latch bolt moving transverse to the direction of the thrust.

A locking button 24 comprises a generally cylindrical body portion 63 with a raised flange 64 at one end thereof. A no-lock-out pin 61 is attached to the body portion 63 and extends generally parallel to the external surface of the body portion 63. A spring detent flange 65 extends outwardly from the flange 64 and is provided with spring detent grooves 131 and 132. A locking handle extends parallel to the body 63 perpendicular to the spring detent flange from the face opposite the detent grooves.

- A rectangular slot extends through the locking button 24 to slidably, non-rotatably receive the spindle 19. A raised locking surface 66 is provided on the flange, which is adapted to engage the lug 107 on the handle, to prevent pivoting movement of the handle and thereby lock the door. This will be hereinafter described in greater detail.

The locking button is inserted in the casing 23 with the handle 60 extending through a groove 70 so that it may be gripped and moved by the fingers. The no-lockout pin 61 extends through a kidney-shaped groove 71 in the lowermost portion and engages cutaway portion 72 on the sliding latch bolt. The flange 64 abuts a shoulder 73 on the casing member, the latter providing a bearing surface for oscillating movement of the locking button. A similar shoulder is provided at the base of the abbreviated circular flange 74. The upper flange 41 0f the casing has a cutaway rectangular slot 75 to receive a substantially flat spring 76 with a detent portion 79. A pin 77 extends outwardly through a hole 78 in the flat spring 76. The locking button is inserted into the as sembly after the handle has been placed in position, and the fiat spring is then placed in the recess 75. The end of the pin 77, or the sides of the groove 75, are deformed to hold the spring in place.

It can thus be seen that the spring 76, with its detented end portion 79, cooperates with the detent grooves 131 and 132 on the locking button so that essentially the locking button is two-positioned, locked and unlocked. The inside latch assembly 11 is complete upon the positioning of the locking button. The operation of the inside latch assembly is evident upon inspection, but will be described in detail hereinafter.

The outer latch assembly comprises an outer casing member 80 with integral, radially extending flanges 81 and 82. As heretofore pointed out, the flanges 81 and 82 have raised boss portions 45 and 46, which are internally threaded to receive bolts 83 and 84 extending through the door stile or rail from the inside latch assembly. The casing has a cylindrical bore 85 with longitudinal grooves 86 and 87 diametrically opposed. The locking plug 15 has raised tangs 88 and 89 which interfit in the grooves 86 and 87 to prevent relative rotation between the locking plug 15 and the outer casing member 13, as well as to provide a stop to cooperate with the shoulder 91) on the casing 13. A tumbler lock 91 is nested within the plug 15 and, upon insertion of a key in the slot 92, relative movement can be had between the tumbler lock and the casing of the plug member 15. The tumbler lock has a tenon extension 93 which is eccentric with respect to the axis of the tumbler lock 91, so that rotation of the lock 91 will allow the tenon extension 93 to travel in an arcuate path.

As is best seen in FIG. 4, the locking collar 18 is of a generally circular configuration and is in abutting engagement with the locking plug 15. A segment 105 of the outer periphery is interrupted through approximately 90 for purposes hereinafter described. A pie-shaped recess 100 is formed in the face of the locking collar, which is adapted to receive the tenon 93. An interrupted circular alignment extension 101 extends toward the locking plug under the flanged portion 89 and cooperates with the tumbler lock 91 so as to keep the locking collar and tumbler lock in axial alignment. The arcuate surface 101 extends through an arc of more than 180 around the tumbler lock 91 in order to keep the parts aligned.

A spring 22 abuts the locking collar 18 to hold it in engagement with the plug 15 and tumbler lock 91, as well as returning the locking plug 15 when it is depressed. As pointed out previously, the spindle 19 is integral'with the locking collar 18, extending away from the side opposite that containing the pie-shaped groove 100. The spindle is of circular cross section initially and merges into a rectangular cross section which, upon assembly, is slidably received in the rectangular slot 62 in the locking button into abutting engagement with the pressure surface 54 of the pivotal handle 26. A locking plate 20 is of a generally rectangular configuration with a hole 102 of larger diameter than the spindle 19 in the center thereof. A locking tab 21 extends from the edge 103 of the locking plate 20 into the outer casing. A locating tab 104 is seated in the groove 87 in the casing 80 to obtain the proper orientation of the locking tab 21 with respect to the locking collar and plug 15, the importance of which will become evident upon describing the operation of the latch.

With particular reference to FIGS. 6 through 8, the

operation of the novel latch Will be described. In the closed position, the inner latch assembly and outer latch assembly assume the position shown in FIG. 6. When a person is desirous of opening the door, the force indicated by the arrow F (FIG. 7) is applied to the handle, which rotates the handle about the pivot pin and simultaneously engages the operator 48 with the cam surface 50, and retracts the sliding bolt 25 against the force of the spring 53. The components of the outer latch assembly are at rest while this occurs. The door may then be pushed open, released and, by a suitable closer means, not shown, returned to the position shown in FIG. 6. If it is desired to enter from the exterior side of the door, a force F (FIG. 8) is applied to depress the locking plug 15, which in turn forces the integral collar and spindle toward the inner side of the door with the innermost end of the spindle engaging the pressure surface 54, which pivots the handle 26 with the same effect as if the force were applied from the inside.

The relationship of the elements of the novel latch assembly in the locked and unlocked position is best described with reference to FIGS. 3, 9, 12, and 13. FIG. 9 shows the inside view of the inner latch assembly, with the locking button 24 in the unlocked position. The locking flange 66 in this position is angulated upwardly so that the locking surface 107 may travel a sufficient distance to permit the operator to retract the sliding bolt 25. An inside view of the outer latch assembly under these conditions is shown in FIG. 12. The interrupted periphery 105 and the slotted portion 106 are aligned with the locking tab 21 so that the locking plug may be depressed as shown in FIG. 8. This is seen more clearly withreference to FIG. 13 which, as pointed out heretofore, is a View taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 3, which illustrates the end portion 143 of the locking tab 21. When it is desired to lock the door from the inner side, the locking handle 60 on the locking button 24 is rotated to the position best seen in FIG. 10. The detent portion 79 of the spring 76 will engage the detent groove 131 to hold the locking handle in this position. The elements of 6 the outer assembly will assume the position shown FIG. 14.

It can be seen that two positive locking means are provided at this point. The locking surface 107 is in engagement with the locking flange 66, which prevents rotation of the handle to retract the sliding bolt 25. Additionally, it prevents depression of the spindle since pressure surface 54 is precluded from movement. Moreover, the rotation of the locking button imparts a rotation to the locking collar 18 through the rectangular spindle 19, Which moves the interrupted segment 105 out of alignment with the locking tab 21 so that attempted depression of the locking plug 15 will result in engagement of the locking collar 18 and locking tab 21. The door may be unlocked by reversing the motion of the locking handle 60, or in the alternative, unlocked with a key from the outer side, which will be hereinafter described.

With particular reference to FIG. 16, it can be seen that the tenon 93 engages the side of the pie-shaped groove so that rotation of. the key causes rotation of the tenon to engage the groove 100 and rotate the locking collar and spindle, the latter imparting rotation to the locking button to disengage the flange 66 and the locking surface 107. Simultaneously therewith, the interrupted peripheral segment is moved into axial alignment with the locking tab 21, so that the locking plug 15 may be depressed and the door opened as heretofore described.

If it is desired to lock the door from the outside, the key is inserted in the slot 92, raising the tumblers in the tumbler lock 91, and then rotated, which rotation is imparted to the tenon 93 to move it to the position illustrated in FIG. 15. This brings the interrupted peripheral segment 105 out of alignment with locking tab 21, which is shown in phantom in FIG. 15, and simultaneously moves the locking button to the locked position engaging the flange 66 and the locking surface 107. It is to be appreciated that the door may be unlocked from. either the inside or the outside when in this position.

The no-lock-out feature of the novel latch herein described is best seen in FIGS. 4, 5, and 10. As heretofore described, the no-lock-out pin 61 extends into the cutaway portion 72 of the sliding bolt. If the locking button 24 is in the locked position, this rotates the nolock-out pin 61 to the opposite end of the groove 71. If the door is closed, sliding bolt 25 rides up on the latch plate 30 and, in so doing, the end surface of the cutaway portion 72 engages the no-lock-out pin to rotate the locking button, spindle and collar to the unlocked position. In the event the rotation of the locking button, collar, and spindle is incomplete, the cam shaped end portion 21' of the locking tab serves to complete the rotation upon depression of the locking plug. It is to .be appreciated that this allows the installer greater freedom in positioning the latch, and latch plate 30, since an in complete depression of the sliding bolt 25 will rotate the locking button spindle and collar sufliciently to allow depression of the locking plug, which will complete the rotation. It can thus be seen that whenever the door is closed with the latch in the locked position, it will automatically unlock itself to prevent accidental locking-out.

It is to be appreciated that the locking plug could be replaced by a plain type push button if a more economical latch is desired. This can be achieved readily by merely removing the locking plate 20, locking collar 18, spring 22, and locking plug 15. A solid end plug may be substituted for the locking plug 15 and the parts replaced as shown.

As a further feature a panic bar may be added to the inner latch assembly. This would entail cutting an angle on the surface 66 so that locking surface 107 may work thereagainst. On depression of the handle, the lug 107 would contact the angled portion of the surface 66 to rotate the locking button to the unlocked position. This feature enables the latch assembly to meet fire codes where this is required.

For ease of description, the principles of the invention have been set forth in connection with but a single illustrated embodiment. It is not our intention that the illustrated embodiment, nor the terminology employed in describing it, be limiting inasmuch as variations in these may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Rather, we desire to be restricted only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A door latch comprising first and second casings ada ted to be attached to each other on opposite sides of a door, said first casing having a cylindrical chamber therein, a locking plug slidably received in said chamber, a locking collar having an interrupted peripheral segment thereon adjacent said plug for slidable movement therewith, a locking plate disposed on the side of the door carrying the first chamber, said locking plate having a locking tab extending into said chamber in line with said interrupted periphery when the locking plug is in the unlocked position, spring means between said plate and said collar for keeping said collar in engagement with said locking plug, a linearly movable and rotatable spindle integral with said collar extending through said locking plate and an oscillatable locking button into the second casing into engagement with a pivotable handle, said handle having cam means thereon engaging a latch bolt which is slidable transversely of the spindle whereby, upon depressing the locking plug when said locking collar is in the unlocked position, the latch bolt will retract.

2. The structure of claim 1, wherein the locking plug has a pin means extending into a recessed portion of the locking collar, whereby rotation of the pin means will cause the collar to rotate to move the interrupted peripheral segment out of alignment with respect to the tab on the locking plate whereby depression of the locking plug is prevented.

3. A door latch comprising first and second casings adapted to be fastened to opposite sides of a door, said first casing having a cylindrical chamber therein, a locking plug slidably received in said chamber, a locking collar in said chamber adjacent said plug, an apertured locking plate having a tab extending towards said collar, a spindle extending from said collar through said plate into the second casing into engagement with a portion of a pivotable handle, said handle being operatively associated with a spring-biased latch bolt for retracting said latch bolt, and locking means in said inner chamber operatively associated with said spindle, said locking means having means cooperating with said latch bolt automatically to move said locking means to the unlocked position when said latch bolt is moved to the retracted position.

4. A no-lock-out door latch comprising inner and outer casing means adapted to be joined to opposite sides of a door, said inner casing having spring biased latch bolt means movably mounted therein, handle means pivotally mounted in. said inner casing to cooperate with said latch bolt means, locking means for operatively engaging said handle means to prevent pivoting thereof when said locking means is in the locked position, no-lock-out means fixedly attached to said locking means and extending into the path of travel of said latch bolt means for engagement thereby to rotate said locking means to the unlocked position when said latch bolt means is retracted, and means carried in the outer casing to move said handle means to open said door when said locking means is in the unlocked position.

5. The structure of claim 4, wherein the means carried by the outer casing includes a slidable locking plug means abuttingly engaged by a locking collar with a segment of the periphery interrupted.

6. The structure of claim 5, wherein the locking plug means has a key-operated tenon means which extends into a pie-shaped groove in the face of the locking collar for rotating said collar.

7. The structure of claim 5, wherein the means carried by the outer casing includes locking plate means having tab means thereon extending toward said collar.

8. A no-lock-out door latch assembly comprising inner and outer casing means, said outer casing means having a key-operated locking plug means slidably received therein, a locking collar means abuttingly engaging said plug means, an interrupted peripheral segment on said collar, apertured locking plate means having a locking tab extending toward said locking collar means and being aligned with the interrupted peripheral segment in the unlocked position, a spindle integrally attached to said collar means extending through said locking plate means into said inner casing, and locking button means in said inner casing cooperating with said spindle to oscillate said collar to misalign said interrupted peripheral segment with respect to said locking tab to thereby prevent depression of said plug means.

9. The structure of claim 8, wherein said locking button means includes flange means thereon to engage said handle to prevent pivotable movement thereof.

10. The structure of claim 8, wherein said locking button means includes means to cooperate with a sliding bolt means for moving said locking button to the unlocked position when said bolt means is retracted.

11. The structure of claim 10, wherein said sliding bolt means has a cam portion for cooperation with an operator means carried by said handle means.

12. A door latch comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on one side of a door, a latch bolt mounted for movement on a first elongated bearing surface in said casing and adapted to be retracted and extended into and out of said casing between unlatched and latched positions, spring means urging said latch bolt to its latched position, handle means pivotably mounted in said casing on a second elongated bearing surface and engageable with said latch bolt for retracting said latch bolt to its retracted position, locking button means mounted for engagement with said handle means and said latch bolt for moving said button means to the unlocked position when said latch bolt is retracted, said locking button means having an operating member accessible from the exterior of said casing, a manually depressible plunger means slidably mounted on the opposite side of the door so that depression thereof pivots said handle means to retract said bolt to the unlatched position, and outer locking means operatively associated with said plunger for preventing depression thereof when said locking means is in the locked position.

13. The structure of claim 12, wherein said outer locking means is key operated.

14. The structure of claim 12, wherein said outer locking means includes a locking collar juxtaposed to a locking tab for engagement therewith when said latch is in the locked position.

15. The structure of claim 14, wherein said outer locking means includes a key-operated tumbler means in said plunger means for rotating said locking collar means to a position to be engaged by said tab.

16. A no-lock-out door latch comprising inner and outer casing means adapted to be joined to opposite sides of a door, said inner casing having spring-biased latch bolt means movably mounted on a first elongated bearing surface therein, handle means pivotally mounted in said inner casing on a second elongated bearing surface oriented substantially perpendicular to said first elongated bearing surface to cooperate with said bolt means, a locking member for operatively engaging said handle means to prevent pivoting thereof when said locking memher is in the locked position, a no-lock-out member integrally attached to said locking member and extending into the path of travel of said latch bolt member for engagement thereby to rotate said locking member to the unlocked position when said latch bolt member is retracted, an integral projecting member on said locking member oriented perpendicular to the door sides and extending outwardly through an opening in the inner casing, said integral projecting member being located on said locking member for rotation in an are which is coaxial with the are through which the no-lock-out member rotates into and out of the unlocked position, and means carried in the outer casing to move said handle means to open said door when said locking member is in the unlocked position.

17. A door latch comprising a casing adapted to be mounted on one side of a door, a latch bolt mounted within said casing for movement between retracted and extended positions relative to said casing, spring means uprging said latch bolt to the extended position thereof, handle means pivotally mounted in said casing and engageable with said latch bolt for moving said latch bolt to the retracted position thereof, a locking button rotatably mounted within said casing for engagement with said handle means and movement between locked and unlocked positions, said locking button including a body portion and integral no-lock-out and operating members, said no-lockout and operating members extending in the same direction with respect to an end of said body portion and parallel to and spaced from the axis of rotation of said locking button, said no-lock-out member extending into the path of travel of said latch bolt for engagement thereby to rotate said locking button to the unlocked position when said latch bolt is retracted, said operating member projecting from the exterior of said casing, and manually depressible plunger means slidably mounted on the opposite side of the door so that depression thereof pivots said handle means to move said bolt into the retracted position.

18. A door latch comprising inner and outer casings adapted to be attached to opposite sides of a door, a handle, spring biased sliding bolt means mounted for camming engagement with said handle and movable between latched and unlatched positions, slidable locking plug means carried in said outer casing engaging said handle for moving said handle, and means in each of said inner and outer casings to lock both said handle and said locking plug means, said means in said inner casing including additional means actuated by said bolt means to move said means in said inner casing to the unlocked position when said bolt means is moved to the unlatched position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,605,630 Keeler Aug. 5, 1952 2,724,958 Psik Nov. 29, 1955 2,773,376 Wartian Dec. 11, 1956 2,782,061 Borchers et a1 Feb. 19, 1957 3,100,388 Wartian Aug. 13, 1963 

4. A NO-LOCK-OUT DOOR LATCH COMPRISING INNER AND OUTER CASING MEANS ADAPTED TO BE JOINED TO OPPOSITE SIDES OF A DOOR, SAID INNER CASING HAVING SPRING BIASED LATCH BOLT MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED THEREIN, HANDLE MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID INNER CASING TO COOPERATE WITH SAID LATCH BOLT MEANS, LOCKING MEANS FOR OPERATIVELY ENGAGING SAID HANDLE MEANS TO PREVENT PIVOTING THEREOF WHEN SAID LOCKING MEANS IS IN THE LOCKED POSITION, NO-LOCK-OUT MEANS FIXEDLY ATTACHED TO SAID LOCKING MEANS AND EXTENDING INTO 